Details of Treaty No.216

Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs

Title

Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs

Reference

CETS No.216

Opening of the treaty

Santiago de Compostela, 25/03/2015
- Treaty open for signature by the member States, the European Union, the non-member States which enjoy observer status with the Council of Europe, and by other non-member States

Entry into Force

01/03/2018
- 5 Ratifications including at least 3 member States of the Council of Europe

The Convention calls on governments to establish as a criminal offence the illegal removal of human organs from living or deceased donors:

where the removal is performed without the free, informed and specific consent of the living or deceased donor, or, in the case of the deceased donor, without the removal being authorised under its domestic law;

where, in exchange for the removal of organs, the living donor, or a third party, receives a financial gain or comparable advantage;

where in exchange for the removal of organs from a deceased donor, a third party receives a financial gain or comparable advantage.

The Convention also provides protection measures and compensation for victims as well as prevention measures to ensure transparency and equitable access to transplantation services.